Cats claw or ua de gato is a climbing vine that is native to the peruvian amazon and gains its name from the barbed claws with which it climbs the jungle canopy cats claw has been used by rainforest tribes to contribute to the immune system and helps to maintain flexible joints and it is still well known for these benefits today there are many actives in cats claw including alkaloids thought to contribute to the immune system and a group of chemicals called quinovic acid glycosides